Youth Development

Mattie Rhodes Center works with schools and local youth identify individuals in need of comprehensive intervention and prevention services as well as a safe place to spend time during out of school hours. Our is to identify the highest-risk youth in need of comprehensive intervention and prevention services: youth with high rates of truancy, potential to drop out, gang involvement, high risk of teenage pregnancy, and low academic achievement.  We provide a comprehensive system of care including in-school and out-of-school services for mental health and substance abuse challenges, academic support and extracurricular activities designed to enhance the personal and educational achievement of all youth. 

Open to middle and high school students, EXPLORE (Expanding Life-Skills Opportunities in a Recreational Environment) is a bilingual out-of-school program that provides young people with a comprehensive system of care designed to enhance their personal and academic lives. Program personnel have created a curriculum of activities and projects that includes tutoring and homework assistance designed to encourage academic achievement, civic involvement and leadership activities, workshops and lessons on reducing risky behaviors and life-skills development activities. Everything is provided in a bilingual, culturally competent environment that is safe, free of drugs and violence, without bullying or peer pressures, and where youth are actively engaged and develop strong peer and adult relationships.